𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐄𝐋 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑! [𝐉𝐉 𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐊]

chapter fourteen.

CRUEL SUMMER!
chapter fourteen.

( why does it feel like a vow we'll both uphold somehow? )

                       The afternoon sun is scathing. Cracks of sunlight peek brightly through the branches of the trees that line the yard. Sarah and John B still have yet to arrive to the chateau, but the rest of us have been here working on the pulley system and gathering the rest of the supplies.

At least, Pope and I have been working on the pulley system. And Kiara has helped with the supplies, aside from also acting as our guinea pig to test that the structure is sturdy enough for the gold.

JJ, on the other hand, is perched on the edge of the brand new hot tub, which now takes up the center of the yard while looking comically out of place. Especially with all the lame, cheesy inflatable pool toys he bought along with it. He soaks his feet, sipping a beer with a coy little smile on his face. The familiar feeling of his eyes on me scalds deeper than the blistering sun above us.

Glancing back over my shoulder, our eyes instantaneously meet, like being drawn together by a magnetic pull. He offers me a teasing wink, smile quickly growing cheeky. The red cap on his head is worn backwards, allowing the golden hues of the remaining daylight to paint his face. There's a smile of my own dawning my lips when I turn away, ignoring the knowing, almost alarmingly giddy twist in my chest. Instead, I watch as Kiara settles into the sizable pail, sitting on the ledge with her feet inside. Pope begins to wind it up.

"How's it feeling?" He asks once she's at the top, the bucket hanging off the branch like a makeshift swing.

"Feels good," Kiara answers, tugging on the cables that suspend her, testing their strength.

"Alright, I'm bringing you down," Pope says, carefully winding the winch backwards. 

With that done and taken care of, we have nothing left to do except finally, finally retrieve the gold.

By now, I've learned to abandon any wishful thinkings about a plan of ours going accordingly, so I won't even bother with thinking of one right at this moment. We still have to wait for Sarah and John B either way, and Pope has his scholarship interview tomorrow, so it could easily end up being a few more days before we go back into Mrs. Crain's dreary basement.

For now, there doesn't seem to be all that much to worry about. Except maybe the unforgivingly hot weather that only really seems to be affecting me. I wipe the sweat from my brow, frowning at the feeling, as I find myself ambling over to the eyesore that is the hot tub.

JJ chuckles, scooting over on the ledge and patting the spot beside him. The heater isn't turned on, so the water inside thankfully isn't hot at all. Because of that, I concede, discarding my shoes before sitting beside him and letting my feet and calves sink in.

"Is this why you always stay inside? The sun has it out for you, or somethin'?" He teases, his voice littered with a blatant fondness.

I scoff, unamused, and turn to deadpan at him. He laughs a little, pushing some unpleasantly sweaty strands of hair away from my face with the hand that holds his beer. Then, he settles the cool glass bottle onto the side of my face, the icy perspiration undeniably bringing forth some cooling relief. He does the same with the other side of my face, and I can't help but smirk at the sweetness behind the innocent deed.